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New Website Connects Physicians to Solve Challenging Cases and Share Experiences

Posted on: Wednesday, 6 May 2009, 08:38 CDT

SCAI and Endovascular Forum Launch Interactive, Case-Based Website on Cardiovascular Disease for Worldwide Learning and Collaboration

LAS VEGAS, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether it's a common heart condition or a rare complication, another physician has likely seen a similar patient. That's why the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and The Endovascular Forum, Inc. (EVF), an IC Sciences Company, today unveiled a new educational Website to facilitate worldwide collaboration among doctors who treat cardiovascular disease. Launched at SCAI's Annual Scientific Sessions, the Cardiovascular Forum (www.CardioVascularCS.org) provides an interactive platform for interventional cardiologists and their colleagues to share knowledge, experience and perspective on challenging patient cases.

"No matter where a physician practices, there will be tough cases, but the odds are other doctors, maybe in the same town or maybe on another continent, have already faced the same challenges and learned from them," said Dr. Bonnie Weiner, SCAI immediate past president and professor and director of Interventional Cardiology Research, St. Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center, Worcester, MA. "The goal of The Cardiovascular Forum is to provide a dedicated space for doctors to learn from one another, for all of us to expand our knowledge, and ultimately, to improve patient care."

Access to The Cardiovascular Forum is free to physicians, who can log on at any time and have immediate access to a variety of learning options. In addition to slide decks on cutting-edge topics and "Have You Ever Seen This?" postings, The Cardiovascular Forum features Interactive Case Forums, where physicians can post their own cases or participate in case discussions posted by others. Without revealing the patients' identity, the cases describe medical history, clinical data and treatment strategy, and pose "challenge questions" authored by the posting physician.

One of the first cases posted on The Cardiovascular Forum launched a debate about how soon patients should be discharged following elective angioplasty and stenting. Participants from various countries debated how long patients should be monitored in the hospital after their procedure and whether accessing the coronary arteries via the wrist versus the groin impacted the length of hospital stay.

"Such debate and sharing of experience is precisely the type of learning we hope to foster on the Cardiovascular Forum," said Dr. Weiner, whose case sparked the discussion. "It's like having a virtual annual meeting at your fingertips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

The Cardiovascular Forum builds on the success of The Endovascular Forum, where a global, multi-disciplinary physician base of members actively share, debate, and advance treatment approaches for patients. By recreating the clinical experience online, EVF provides a platform for physicians to participate in a form of Grand Rounds with their peers in unprecedented ways. This expansion with SCAI continues to expand the breadth and value that EVF provides its community.

"The Cardiovascular Forum is founded on a premise of shared discovery. All clinical submissions come from a multi-specialty, intra-disciplinary and global physician membership. In essence, the physicians themselves have created an international community of learners, all of whom are aimed at the same goal, the ability to deliver optimal care to their patients," said John Heinen, chief technology officer and executive vice president of IC Sciences.

To access the Cardiovascular Forum, physicians can register at www.CardioVascularCS.org.

About SCAI

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions is a 4,000-member professional organization representing invasive and interventional cardiologists in more than 60 nations. SCAI's mission is to promote excellence in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine through physician education and representation, and advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. SCAI's annual meeting has become the leading venue for education, discussion, and debate about the latest developments in this dynamic medical specialty. SCAI's patient and physician education program, Seconds Count, offers comprehensive information about cardiovascular disease. For more information about SCAI and Seconds Count, visit www.scai.org or www.seconds-count.org.

About EndoVascular.Org

Founded in 1996, the Endovascular Forum, Inc. is one of the world's longest standing specialty specific medical forums dedicated to cardiovascular and endovascular specialists. The EVF is an international case study and discussion forum developed and hosted by IC Sciences Corporation (www.ICSciences.com). The EVF NGHI (next generation health Internet) community comes together to share clinical observations, findings, and cases that all serve to accelerate the awareness and adoption of the most innovative and sometimes controversial procedures among physicians in the minimally invasive medical community. To learn more about the Endovascular Forum, please visit www.Endovascular.org

Contact: SCAI 1-800-992-7224 info@scai.org IC Sciences Corporation Public Relations One Joy Street Boston, MA 02108 1-866-804-6296

SOURCE IC Sciences Corporation

Source: PR Newswire

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